IAP Political Forum

Over the last couple of election cycles, Republicans have perfected the art of mass disinformation in order to win elections. Unlike "politics as usual" techniques from the past that relied simply on misrepresenting or mischaracterizing their opponents' positions; this new breed of dirty politics centers on outright lying about your opponent and fabricating entirely bogus claims about your opponent that are not only not true - but often completely and totally opposite of the actual facts.

The lying liar John McCain has fully jumped on board with fabricating complete and total bogus lies that he knows are lies in order to win the election. At almost every opportunity, over-and-over again, liar John McCain intentionally repeats lies about Barack Obama's policies and positions. What the lying McCain campaign has discovered is that you can make up lies about your opponent and the general American public - including the majority of those that vote - are simply too lazy, apathetic, and ignorant to discover you are just making up a bunch of lies. Consider the following lies John McCain has made up about Barack Obama and repeatedly stated both in his television ads and on the campaign trail:

MCCAIN OUTRIGHT LIE: 23 small business owners would pay higher taxes under Obama.
                     TRUTH: Fewer than 600,000 small business owners would pay higher taxes under Obama, and the vast majority of American business owners would actually receive a tax cut under Obama.

MCCAIN OUTRIGHT LIE: Obama says he'll raise taxes on electricity.
                     TRUTH: Obama has never said he will raise taxes on electricity and has never proposed raising taxes on electricty.

MCCAIN OUTRIGHT LIE: Barack Obama, alone, is responsible for keeping gas prices high all by himself.
                     TRUTH: (do I really need to explain why this is a lie?)

MCCAIN OUTRIGHT LIE: Obama voted against funding our troops.
                     TRUTH: On 10 votes in 5 seperate measures, Barack Obama voted in favor of funding our troops every single time.

MCCAIN OUTRIGHT LIE: John McCain supports renewable energy.
                    TRUTH: John McCain's energy plan consists entirely of tax give-a-ways to big oil companies and drilling for more oil, and includes NOTHING supporting renewable energy. 


Republicans have decided that the only way they can win elections is by frightening Americans into voting for them by lying about Demcrats and their positions. Republicans have decided they need to lie in order to make Americans believe Democrats do not support our troops, will raise their taxes, and will not protect them from terrorists. That is the only way a Republican can win an election.

John McCain - A worthless liar just like George Bush and Dick Cheney.

<Yawn>

Yes, Yes.....Democrats never lie....we get it.

Where's John Edwards when you need him........oh.....nevermind.

 Here's a few more;
 Signing of the GI Bill: Now enthusiastically for it... after it passed. Previously attacked the Webb Bill. Didn't even bother to vote on it.
http://bravenewfilms.org/...

Campaign reform: On political reform, McCain last January opposed a grassroots lobbying bill he once supported.  In 2006, the "New York Sun" reported that his presidential ambitions led McCain to reverse his support of a campaign financial bill called McCain/Feingold.
http://www.nysun.com/...

Alien Minors Act/Immigration: Last October he said he would vote against the development, relief and education for Alien Miners Act that he co-sponsored, and then said he would vote against an immigration bill that he introduced.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Gay Marriage: In 2006, he said on "HARDBALL," quote, I think that gay marriage should be allowed.  Then after the commercial break he added, I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal.   
http://www.youtube.com/...

Abortion: On abortion, 1999, publicly supporting Roe v. Wade, privately opposing it in a letter to the National Right to Life Committee.  In the 2000 debates, he would change the GOP platform to permit exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother.  May 2007, "flipped", ABCNews.com reported.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

Nuclear Waste: No Storing Nuclear waste at Yucca mountain earlier..now flipped
http://www.lasvegassun.com/...

Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il: Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il not acceptable until President Bush did it last week.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Negotiating with Cuba/Castro: With Fidel Castro acceptable in 2000, not 2008.
http://vids.myspace.com/...

Negotiating with Hamas/Terrorists: ...with terrorists appropriate when Colin Powell went to Syria and in 2006 when McCain said sooner or later we‘ll talk to Hamas, but not appropriate now re: Obama's willingness to use diplomacy.   
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Pakistan: Unilateral action against suspected terrorists in Pakistan; "Confused leadership" when Obama suggested it, not when Bush did it.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...
 
Warrantless Wire-taps: Six months ago, presidents had to obey the law, not anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/...

Torture: Torture detainees, no way, except for the CIA.  Hold them indefinitely, wrong in 2003, the right move in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Iraq War: The Iraq war, the right course 2004, stay the course 2005. Today, McCain has always been a Rumsfeld critic.                           
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Tax Cuts: In 2001, he could not in good conscious support them.  Now he can.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Estate Tax: 2006, "I agree with President Roosevelt who created it".  In 2008, "most unfair".
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Privatizing Social Security: This month not for privatizing Social Security, never has been.  In 2004, he "didn‘t see how benefits will last without it".
http://www.youtube.com/...

Balanced Budget: In February, promised a balanced budget in four years by April, make that eight years.
http://www.perrspectives.com/...

Windfall Profits Tax: In May, glad to look at the windfall profits tax.  By June, that was Jimmy Carter's big idea.
http://flipfloptracker.blogspot.com/...

Offshore Drilling: In 2000, no new off shore drilling.  Last month, it would take years to develop.  This month, very helpful in the short term.   
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Coyotes..Bush Big Time Fund Raisers: The Bush fund-raisers McCain called coyotes breaking the law in 2000.  By 2006, they were co-chairing McCain fund-raisers.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

"Agents of Intolerance": Buddy Jerry Falwell...an "agent of intolerance in 2000". Kissed Falwell's ass in 2007... The Reverend Hagee and Parsley in, then out this year alone.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Martin Luther King Holiday: In 1983, opposed Martin Luther King Day.  Today, all for it.
http://www.boston.com/...

Confederate Flag: In 2000, defended South Carolina's confederate flag as a symbol of heritage.  Two years later, McCain calling it, quote, an act of political cowardice not to say the flag should come down.  Quote, "everybody said, look out.  You can't win in South Carolina if you say that."
http://www.youtube.com/...

Evolution in Public Schools: In 2005, McCain said alternatives to evolution should be taught in school.  "Evolving" the opposite position he had taken in 2000.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Restoring the Everglades: On June 5, John McCain traveled to the Everglades to win over Floridians and environmentally-minded voters. There he proclaimed, "I am in favor of doing whatever’s necessary to save the Everglades." Sadly, as ThinkProgress documented, McCain not only opposed $2 billion in funding for the restoration of the Everglades national park, he backed President Bush’s veto of the legislation in 2007. "I believe," he said, "that we should be passing a bill that will authorize legitimate, needed projects without sacrificing fiscal responsibility."
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Swiftboating: McCain's sudden embrace of Swiftboating --- which today is synonymous with a concerted effort to lie about an opponent's history --- is all the more deplorable because he has hired retired Col. George "Bud" Day, a proud member of the group that Swiftboated Kerry --- and someone McCain once described as having "tunnel vision" --- to lead what McCain is calling his "Truth Squad."
http://digg.com/...

GITMO/Habeus Corpus:Despite John McCain's outrage last week that the Supreme Court ordered Gitmo detainees know why they were being held, or released -- Political Base has stumbled upon a McCain appearance on Meet the Press in 2005 where he argued they deserved trials, going so far as to say "if it means releasing some of them, you'll have to release them." Shameless.
http://www.politicalbase.com/...

Divestment from South Africa: During his June 2 speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), John McCain called for the international community to target Iran for the kind of worldwide sanctions regime applied to apartheid-era South Africa. Unfortunately, McCain’s lobbyist-advisers Charlie Black and Rick Davis each represented firms doing business with Tehran. Even more unfortunate, John McCain was frequently not among those offering "moral clarity and conviction" in backing "a divestment campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations: During a June 4th town hall meeting in Baton Rouge, John McCain answered a reporter’s question regarding Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees by announcing:

"I’ve supported every investigation and ways of finding out what caused the tragedy. I’ve been here to New Orleans. I’ve met with people on the ground."

As it turns out, not so much. McCain’s revisionist history neglects to mention that in 2005 and 2006 he twice voted against a commission to study the government’s response to Katrina. He also opposed three separate emergency funding measures providing relief to Katrina victims, including the extension of five months of Medicaid benefits. And as ThinkProgress pointed out, "until traveling there one month ago, McCain had made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

McCain On His Economic Abilities: "I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not." "I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military and others. I am very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent."

-- Sen. John McCain, in an interview on ABC News, when asked why he "admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy."

However, NBC News compiles past McCain quotes in which he said "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should" or "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

On Criticizing Obama While "Overseas": Traveling in Colombia, he told reporters that he wouldn't criticize Obama while he was overseas, but on the plane, he blasted Obama’s opposition to the proposed Colombia free trade...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

UPDATES from KOSsacks:

Temperment and Temper: "My temper has often been both a matter of public speculation and personal concern," he wrote in a 2002 memoir. "I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public's."  Not true and not under control, according to many of those on the "W"rong side of McCain's famous temper.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Drilling For Oil and Automobile Efficiency: "Last week, Senator McCain reversed himself and said we need to drill more. Today, he has reversed years of failing to support more efficient cars, new energy technologies and green jobs.
http://www.speaker.gov/...

Offshore Drilling: Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) offered "a bit of a capitulation to the oil companies" by announcing that he would end the federal ban on offshore oil drilling. Not only is McCain’s move a break with environmental activist, but it is also "a reversal of the position he took in his 2000 presidential campaign.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Payroll Taxes: "When he was asked in 2005 whether he could see himself lifting the cap on the payroll tax, (McCain) said, 'I could.' Two years later, during a May 13, 2007, appearance on "Meet the Press," Russert asked McCain if he was still open to lifting the Social Security tax cap as part of a compromise. "Am I opposed to tax increases?" said McCain. "Yes. But we've got to sit down together and figure out what our options are, and tough decisions have to be made, Republicans and Democrats. And I know how to do that." Asked about the 2005 remark, a McCain spokesman acknowledged the tension with his current position while arguing that the Arizona senator's criticism of his Democratic rival is still valid because McCain has spoken out against higher Social Security taxes as a 2008 White House hopeful.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

Ethics Reform and Abramoff: On the stump, Sen. John McCain often cites his work tackling the excesses of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as evidence of his sturdy ethical compass. A little-known document, however, shows that McCain may have taken steps to protect his Republican colleagues from the scope of his investigation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Here's a few more;
 Signing of the GI Bill: Now enthusiastically for it... after it passed. Previously attacked the Webb Bill. Didn't even bother to vote on it.
 http://bravenewfilms.org/...

Campaign reform: On political reform, McCain last January opposed a grassroots lobbying bill he once supported.  In 2006, the "New York Sun" reported that his presidential ambitions led McCain to reverse his support of a campaign financial bill called McCain/Feingold.
http://www.nysun.com/...

Alien Minors Act/Immigration: Last October he said he would vote against the development, relief and education for Alien Miners Act that he co-sponsored, and then said he would vote against an immigration bill that he introduced.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Gay Marriage: In 2006, he said on "HARDBALL," quote, I think that gay marriage should be allowed.  Then after the commercial break he added, I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal.   
http://www.youtube.com/...

Abortion: On abortion, 1999, publicly supporting Roe v. Wade, privately opposing it in a letter to the National Right to Life Committee.  In the 2000 debates, he would change the GOP platform to permit exceptions for rape, incest, the life of the mother.  May 2007, "flipped", ABCNews.com reported.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

Nuclear Waste: No Storing Nuclear waste at Yucca mountain earlier..now flipped
http://www.lasvegassun.com/...

Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il: Negotiating with Kim Jong-Il not acceptable until President Bush did it last week.
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Negotiating with Cuba/Castro: With Fidel Castro acceptable in 2000, not 2008.
http://vids.myspace.com/...

Negotiating with Hamas/Terrorists: ...with terrorists appropriate when Colin Powell went to Syria and in 2006 when McCain said sooner or later we‘ll talk to Hamas, but not appropriate now re: Obama's willingness to use diplomacy.   
http://bondibox.newsvine.com/...

Pakistan: Unilateral action against suspected terrorists in Pakistan; "Confused leadership" when Obama suggested it, not when Bush did it.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...
 
Warrantless Wire-taps: Six months ago, presidents had to obey the law, not anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/...

Torture: Torture detainees, no way, except for the CIA.  Hold them indefinitely, wrong in 2003, the right move in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Iraq War: The Iraq war, the right course 2004, stay the course 2005. Today, McCain has always been a Rumsfeld critic.                           
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Tax Cuts: In 2001, he could not in good conscious support them.  Now he can.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Estate Tax: 2006, "I agree with President Roosevelt who created it".  In 2008, "most unfair".
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Privatizing Social Security: This month not for privatizing Social Security, never has been.  In 2004, he "didn‘t see how benefits will last without it".
http://www.youtube.com/...

Balanced Budget: In February, promised a balanced budget in four years by April, make that eight years.
http://www.perrspectives.com/...

Windfall Profits Tax: In May, glad to look at the windfall profits tax.  By June, that was Jimmy Carter's big idea.
http://flipfloptracker.blogspot.com/...

Offshore Drilling: In 2000, no new off shore drilling.  Last month, it would take years to develop.  This month, very helpful in the short term.   
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Coyotes..Bush Big Time Fund Raisers: The Bush fund-raisers McCain called coyotes breaking the law in 2000.  By 2006, they were co-chairing McCain fund-raisers.
http://abcnews.go.com/...

"Agents of Intolerance": Buddy Jerry Falwell...an "agent of intolerance in 2000". Kissed Falwell's ass in 2007... The Reverend Hagee and Parsley in, then out this year alone.
http://www.youtube.com/...

Martin Luther King Holiday: In 1983, opposed Martin Luther King Day.  Today, all for it.
http://www.boston.com/...

Confederate Flag: In 2000, defended South Carolina's confederate flag as a symbol of heritage.  Two years later, McCain calling it, quote, an act of political cowardice not to say the flag should come down.  Quote, "everybody said, look out.  You can't win in South Carolina if you say that."
http://www.youtube.com/...

Evolution in Public Schools: In 2005, McCain said alternatives to evolution should be taught in school.  "Evolving" the opposite position he had taken in 2000.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Restoring the Everglades: On June 5, John McCain traveled to the Everglades to win over Floridians and environmentally-minded voters. There he proclaimed, "I am in favor of doing whatever’s necessary to save the Everglades." Sadly, as ThinkProgress documented, McCain not only opposed $2 billion in funding for the restoration of the Everglades national park, he backed President Bush’s veto of the legislation in 2007. "I believe," he said, "that we should be passing a bill that will authorize legitimate, needed projects without sacrificing fiscal responsibility."
http://www.crooksandliars.com/...

Swiftboating: McCain's sudden embrace of Swiftboating --- which today is synonymous with a concerted effort to lie about an opponent's history --- is all the more deplorable because he has hired retired Col. George "Bud" Day, a proud member of the group that Swiftboated Kerry --- and someone McCain once described as having "tunnel vision" --- to lead what McCain is calling his "Truth Squad."
http://digg.com/...

GITMO/Habeus Corpus:Despite John McCain's outrage last week that the Supreme Court ordered Gitmo detainees know why they were being held, or released -- Political Base has stumbled upon a McCain appearance on Meet the Press in 2005 where he argued they deserved trials, going so far as to say "if it means releasing some of them, you'll have to release them." Shameless.
http://www.politicalbase.com/...

Divestment from South Africa: During his June 2 speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), John McCain called for the international community to target Iran for the kind of worldwide sanctions regime applied to apartheid-era South Africa. Unfortunately, McCain’s lobbyist-advisers Charlie Black and Rick Davis each represented firms doing business with Tehran. Even more unfortunate, John McCain was frequently not among those offering "moral clarity and conviction" in backing "a divestment campaign against South Africa, helping to rid that nation of the evil of apartheid."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Opposing Hurricane Katrina Investigations: During a June 4th town hall meeting in Baton Rouge, John McCain answered a reporter’s question regarding Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the New Orleans levees by announcing:

"I’ve supported every investigation and ways of finding out what caused the tragedy. I’ve been here to New Orleans. I’ve met with people on the ground."

As it turns out, not so much. McCain’s revisionist history neglects to mention that in 2005 and 2006 he twice voted against a commission to study the government’s response to Katrina. He also opposed three separate emergency funding measures providing relief to Katrina victims, including the extension of five months of Medicaid benefits. And as ThinkProgress pointed out, "until traveling there one month ago, McCain had made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005."
http://thinkprogress.org/...

McCain On His Economic Abilities: "I have not. I have not. Actually, I have not." "I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military and others. I am very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent."

-- Sen. John McCain, in an interview on ABC News, when asked why he "admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy."

However, NBC News compiles past McCain quotes in which he said "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should" or "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...

On Criticizing Obama While "Overseas": Traveling in Colombia, he told reporters that he wouldn't criticize Obama while he was overseas, but on the plane, he blasted Obama’s opposition to the proposed Colombia free trade...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

UPDATES from KOSsacks:

Temperment and Temper: "My temper has often been both a matter of public speculation and personal concern," he wrote in a 2002 memoir. "I have a temper, to state the obvious, which I have tried to control with varying degrees of success because it does not always serve my interest or the public's."  Not true and not under control, according to many of those on the "W"rong side of McCain's famous temper.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Drilling For Oil and Automobile Efficiency: "Last week, Senator McCain reversed himself and said we need to drill more. Today, he has reversed years of failing to support more efficient cars, new energy technologies and green jobs.
http://www.speaker.gov/...

Offshore Drilling: Two weeks ago, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) offered "a bit of a capitulation to the oil companies" by announcing that he would end the federal ban on offshore oil drilling. Not only is McCain’s move a break with environmental activist, but it is also "a reversal of the position he took in his 2000 presidential campaign.
http://thinkprogress.org/...

Payroll Taxes: "When he was asked in 2005 whether he could see himself lifting the cap on the payroll tax, (McCain) said, 'I could.' Two years later, during a May 13, 2007, appearance on "Meet the Press," Russert asked McCain if he was still open to lifting the Social Security tax cap as part of a compromise. "Am I opposed to tax increases?" said McCain. "Yes. But we've got to sit down together and figure out what our options are, and tough decisions have to be made, Republicans and Democrats. And I know how to do that." Asked about the 2005 remark, a McCain spokesman acknowledged the tension with his current position while arguing that the Arizona senator's criticism of his Democratic rival is still valid because McCain has spoken out against higher Social Security taxes as a 2008 White House hopeful.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

Ethics Reform and Abramoff: On the stump, Sen. John McCain often cites his work tackling the excesses of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff as evidence of his sturdy ethical compass. A little-known document, however, shows that McCain may have taken steps to protect his Republican colleagues from the scope of his investigation.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

 Heres another biggie:
 In tonight’s Fox News GOP presidential forum, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) attempted to argue that if elected president, he will eliminate “wasteful spending.” As evidence, he claimed that he has never asked for an earmark for his state of Arizona:

And I’m proud to tell you, Chris, in 24 years as a member of Congress, I have never asked for nor received a single earmark or pork barrel project for my state and I guarantee you I’ll veto those bills. I’ll ask for the line item veto and I’ll veto them and I’ll make the authors of them famous.

McCain’s claim is false. In 2006, the senator teamed up with fellow Arizona senator Jon Kyl (R) to funnel $10 million toward the University of Arizona for an academic center named after the late Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist. Even Arizona lawmaker, Rep. Jeff Flake (R), said he was planning to “lean against the measure.” The National Taxpayers Union, another traditional McCain ally, questioned why the senator was making federal taxpayers foot the bill for the center.

In 2003, McCain also slipped $14.3 million into a defense appropriations bill to
create a buffer zone around Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. As Roll Call reported in 2003, this project violated McCain’s own anti-pork rhetoric:

The only problem is the project to acquire more land near the base was not requested by President Bush or fully authorized by the Senate Armed Services Committee - two of McCain’s criteria for identifying so-called ‘pork.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), a notorious porker, was overjoyed that McCain had joined his side. “One man’s pork is another man’s alternate white meat,” said Stevens. “If he asked for it, we put it in.”

 Here is McShame lieing to fellow vet about his record ;


At a town hall meeting in Denver on Monday, John McCain was called onto the carpet, by a fellow Vietnam veteran, for his poor voting record on veterans' issues.

What was McCain's response? To ignore the man's question (twice), lie about his own record, and tacitly accuse his fellow vet of lying.




Here's a transcript of the exchange: (from The Washington Independent)
The first question from the audience came from a Vietnam veteran, who challenged McCain's record of supporting health care for veterans. It was followed by this testy exchange, during which McCain fell back on his endorsements from veteran groups:

McCain: "I don't know what bill you're referring to...and I'll be glad to have you refer to it. The reason why I have a perfect voting record from organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion and all the other veterans' service organizations is because I support them."

Audience Member: "You do not have a perfect voting record with [Disabled American Veterans] and VFW. That's where these votes are recorded. The votes were for proposals by your colleagues in the Senate to increase health-care funding for the [Veterans Administration] in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. You voted against those proposals. I can give the numbers of those Senate votes right now."

McCain: "I thank you and I'd be glad to examine what your version of my record is. Again, I've been endorsed in every election by all of the veterans' organizations that do that. I've been supported by them and received the highest awards from all of those organizations, so I guess they don't know something you know. I thank you very much and I will continue to be proud of my support for the veterans of this country."
Has McCain never heard the old adage, "Never try to bullshit a guy who's clutching a sheaf of papers?" I think it was Mark Twain.

I really loved this part: "I'd be glad to examine what your version of my record is."

I bet he would, since the man apparently had the version that was true. From The Independent:
Disabled American Veterans gave McCain a dismal 20 percent rating, out of a possible 100 percent, during the second session of the 109th Congress, which ended in January 2007 -- their most recent rating. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of 'D.'

Vietnam Veterans of America does not offer a rating or grade, but they do provide a chart that compares McCain's vote to their preferred position. Since 2001, McCain voted with VVA nine times and against them 15 times. He also missed eight votes.
In the words of Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much!"

The McCain campaign is clearly unprepared in this area, and it could cost McCain dearly. His image as an honorable warrior is the biggest of his few remaining assets. He runs the risk of eroding that with things like this, or his hiring of a Swift Boat Veteran for his "Truth Squad." Both of these hits were self-inflicted, and McCain should make sure that, the next time one of his brothers in arms wants some answers, he is ready with some true ones.
 http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/07/10/mccain-lies-to-vet-about-voting-record/

 Here is some points of research you all should do before considering McShame for any public office.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06zsn5BuL3Y&feature=related

 More McCain lies and deciet;
 http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/02/mccain-lies-about-his-support-for-mlk-jr-day-in-arizona/

 Another lie about Obama on July 30th:
 McCain Lies About Obama and Wounded Troops
@ 9:11 am
John McCain personally told Larry King that Barack Obama wanted to bring reporters, cameras and campaign aides to a meeting with wounded troops in Germany.

When he said this, John McCain was lying. Let me spell this correctly: L-Y-I-N-G.

Obama never intended to bring reporters, period. That is a lie. Obama never intended to bring cameras. That is a lie. Obama never intended to bring "his campaign staffers" (to use McCain's words). That, too, is a lie. The only person Obama intended to bring was retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, who is an unpaid military adviser.

Credit to Dan Balz in The Washington Post today for laying out the facts. Shame on many in the political, cable, pundit and commentariat classes who have allowed McCain to get away with what are several clear, unmitigated and outright lies (spell that L-I-E-S) about Obama and wounded troops.

One can understand McCain's frustration. He taunted Obama to make the trip and it was a major success. One can understand McCain's anger. He was reduced to a photo-op on an oil rig that was canceled by a hurricane, and while he dished his talking points at Schmidt's sausage factory, Obama was greeted by a quarter of a million people, many waving American flags, and praised extravagantly by the conservative leaders of Germany and France.
 http://pundits.thehill.com/2008/07/30/mccain-lies-about-obama-and-wounded-troops/
 

With respect to fairness, I'm reasonably sure someone could make a few posts about all the times that Obama has lied...

The post isn't simply about politicians "lying" or whether Republicans lie more than Democrats or vice versa. Unfortunately, all politicians lie. Sadly, I am not aware of a single politican who doesn't regularly lie. That is a reality the voting public has been forced to deal with since George Washington. However, lying, like every other type of any unethical behavior has varying levels of severity. Stealing is unethical. But robbing a bank at gunpoint is a significantly more serious offense than shoplifting a candybar. The same holds true for lying. However, most conservatives I know of do not want to draw a distinction. For example, in this very thread, you have a conservative poster trying to lump Democratic Senator, John Edwards (who is not even a presidential candidate) lying about embarrassing sexual details of his personal love life together with John McCain, the Republican nominee for President of the United States of America, launching a massive disinformation campaign against his rival canidate to intentional deceive voters in order to win election to the highest office in the country.

The two aren't even in the same universe. Likewise, saying "I'm sure Obama lies too" is weak and unacceptable. Its the type of attitude that allows people like John McCain to feel like he can get away with habitually misinforming voters. If you have evidence that Barack Obama is intentionally and purposely misinforming voters about John McCain in order to win the election, then by all means, present it.     

I believe you already did:

"Unfortunately, all politicians lie. Sadly, I am not aware of a single politican who doesn't regularly lie. That is a reality the voting public has been forced to deal with since George Washington."

Or am I not allowed to speak in generalities, too?

You sound like a child who complains his kid sister lies MORE than him......and she gets away with it...talk about "weak and unacceptable"  ::)

Kind of like when people talk about McCain and you go, "But Obama does it tooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"

It is weak and unacceptable, I agree.

I understand you wish there to be absolutely no counters to hypocracy.

Just because there's hypocracy from the messenger doesn't negate the fact that your boy and your whole party are hypocrites themselves.

Um...very good there....I was not the one throwing stones at McCain from the safety of my glass house.

Surely Patton should be well aware under the UCMJ, that McCain was subject to at the time of his adultery with the beer heiress he was guilty and admitted the crime. The UCMJ is the only code of laws in the U. S. where adultery remains a crime. So when he was busily having his affair with Cindy, he was committing a crime. One would think an Academy graduate would have had some familiarity with the Uniform Code Of Military Justice.

Realistically, unless charges are preferred against a service member, investigated, and proof discovered, it is a very rarely prosecuted crime. But quite technically, McCain is an an admitted criminal.
 
Today's LA Times suggests he was not only a criminal by the standards of the UCMJ, but also a bigamist. It appears there are some discrepancies in the divorce filing dates and claims made by McCain. I know of no state in the U.S. including Hawaii, where bigamy isn't a crime. 

Wonder if the LA Times article today will have legs? Or will like the majority of the MSM continue to give McCain a pass.

McCain's broken marriage and fractured Reagan friendship

Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times

The nature and timing of his divorce from Carol Shepp alienated key friends -- and his version doesn't always match that in court documents.

By Richard A. Serrano and Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
July 11, 2008

Outside her Bel-Air home, Nancy Reagan stood arm in arm with John McCain and offered a significant -- but less than exuberant -- endorsement.

"Ronnie and I always waited until everything was decided, and then we endorsed," the Republican matriarch said in March. "Well, obviously this is the nominee of the party." They were the only words she would speak during the five-minute photo op.

In a written statement, she described McCain as "a good friend for over 30 years." But that friendship was strained in the late 1970s by McCain's decision to divorce his first wife, Carol, who was particularly close to the Reagans, and within weeks marry Cindy Hensley, the young heiress to a lucrative Arizona beer distributorship.

The full article is on the link with pics.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-divorce11-2008jul11,0,5924926,full.story

Oh I love metaphors... If the child lies that he didn't sneak an extra candy from the jar and kid sister lies that her sibling murdered the neighbors dog then maybe he has a point.

It's not hypocrisy because it is not the same thing. Barack Obama is not participating in the same behavior as John McCain. John McCain is purposely and intentionally constructing lies, that John McCain knows full well are lies, in order to misinform the public.

Barack Obama is not doing that. Therefore, there is no hypocrisy.

So.....Barack Obama's lies are unintentional?   :laugh:

Finish your question and I would be glad to answer it. Tell me, specifically, to which of Barack Obama's lies are you referring?

While this discussion continues with arguments from the right and left, my sense of humor just can't resist this "interesting" photograph especially for Patton. And yes, I know it's a bit old, but I suspect this is the effect McCain continues have on a large majority of voters.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8725/mccainrallyqp1.jpg

There are so many....I don't know where to start.

Well, how about at the beginning? Or perhaps the middle? The end? You choose. Since there are SO many, it must be child's play to just pick a small handful at random.

We'll wait.

Well then, by all means, let's be fair. Let's see some outright, blatant, in-your-face lies by Obama, comparable to McCain's many outright, blatant, in-your-face lies that have been documented right here in this thread.

Waiting...

*Yawn.*

*Stretch.*

Well, during this quiet time, let's review the Obama Campaign's response to the latest deliberate dishonesty issuing from the McCain camp:

I'm not partisan enough... which is why I gave someone else the benefit of the doubt...

That's cool. I'm sure Patton is right now sifting through ALL thoese examples of Obama's many, many outright lies so that he can provide us with some choice examples. While the McCain camp provides us with examples almost every day, and certainly every week, of blatant lies, I'm sure that arch-partisan Patton will have NO trouble proving that Obama is not the least bit different.

 Common to the republican play book is this kind of transference of guilt I.E. accuse the opponent of what you are guilty of in order to diffuse any future accusation on yourself.
 We saw it from the republican smear machine many times in 2004. The same guys now working for McCain are up to the same dirty tactics:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/09/mccains-latest-lie-obama-is-the-big-oil-candidate/
 This kind of scum ball confusion tactic is becoming so transparent all we have to do to find out what the McShame camp is up to, is to listen to what they accuse Obama of.
  Its getting almost comical.

C'mon, free.

Let's be objective here... :police:

This is similar to how Ron Paul's district received a great amount of public funds for various projects, despite his libertarian obsession. Granted he did not have much influence, though it is ironic.

OK Abraxas, convince me. Site an example of the Democratic party pulling this decidedly Rovian tactic with link, and I will amend my post.

I find it laughable there are those that believe a fast talking Chicago liberal politician has not or does not lie.

Getting into a petty "show me" game is un-necessary when search engines are available for ones use.

 Challenge to you then Patton. If proof is "petty" , then petty I am . Or should I just take your word that Obama has used this particular tactic? Show me where Obama accused McSame of doing something nefarious that the Obama camp was later shown to be guilty of. Don't give me that "there are search engines out  there look it up" crap. Put up or shut up.

McCain can not win if he discusses the real Obama plans, so he makes things up to argue against. Another example;
 McCain misrepresents Obama's tax proposals again. And again, and again.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/151621

Biker, you should know that if you make an accusation, saying "check the search engines" is a pretty poor "proof".  The only think close that I have seen where Obama misrepresented McCain is by siting he received $2M from oil companies when it was more like $1.4M.  Definitely not the same level as claiming Obama is the cause of $4 gas that McCain is guilty of.  BTW, love the avatar.  If you are a McCain supporter, why is your avatar of Obama next to an American flag?  Makes the man look like a visionary.  (BTW, if it is some lame attempt at showing Obama not to be patriotic, it deserves one of BBW's fail posts)

 Perrin ; The popular lie about the photo Patton uses as his avatar is that Obama does not put his hand over his heart when the pledge is recited. It is this LIE that made this photo popular amoung right wing hacks looking to invent something to end his popularity. In fact the photo was taken at the start of the national anthem not the pledge.
 Obama asserts that he was taught as a child that "you put your hand over your heart for the pledge, when the anthem is played you sing"... Sounds good to me.
 Here is a photo of Obama reciting the pledge.
 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/11/01/PH2007110101367.jpg)
 Here is a photo Patton doesn't want us to look at...McCain embracing Bush and all he represents
 (http://www.straighttalkmccain.com/files/images/mccain_bush-hug-713122_1.jpg) ...note how his eyes are closed in what appears to be a profound emotional display in an adoration of the man and what he stands for.

You do it everytime Neue or Patton brings something up about a Democrat!


Or maybe he just pooped himself.

Old people do that, ya know...

My advice to you is to stop responding to threads you are too intellectually lazy to participate in. It's really quite simple. If you have evidence Barack Obama is practicing campaign tactics as equally dishonest as John McCain then provide it. If you don't, admit it. And if the discussion is of no interest to you one way or the other, then don't respond.   

 ::)

No response ...duely noted.

I am a Democrat ... I am not the Democratic party or the Obama campaign.
Or maybe he was just taking a quick, unexpected, midday nap ...old people do that as well. ;D

This is quite interesting. It was just assumed by several posters here the Obama must be equally dishonest as McCain.

And yet, while the examples of McCain's blatant dishonesty fill several long posts, there hasn't been anything close to an equivalent list generated regarding Obama--not even a single instance, in fact.

So...hmm. Maybe Obama isn't being as dishonest as McCain is? Maybe McCain is running a more dishonest campaign than Obama?

Could it be? And if it is true, as it appears to be, what does that mean? What does it say about McCain and his policies, versus Obama and his policies?

 McShame lies that he won't lie. Is there no end to this campaigns dishonesty??
http://brighthall.aol.com/2008/07/31/john-mccain-lies-says-he-wont-lie/

 Remember when McShame said he wouldn't have lobbyists on his campaign anymore?...
 Well, one more lie for the old man.
 
 http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/08/9263_so_much_for_mcc.html
 It appears that even his foriegn policy agenda can be bought.

I was aware of the reasoning, just also was aware that it has been discounted numerous times to make those "attempts" to be ineffective.

  Just wanted to get it out there again Perrin. I'm willing to bet that Patton didn't know and that he believed the right wing lies about the photo.

I will be more than happy to step in for him/her  8). Obama munipulates his supporters to in his own words "make you scared not to vote for him". For example he blames the problems with the economy and Iraq on McCain. Last time I checked both of them were senators  ???. I loved the last part of this article where Obama blames McCain for voting with Bush on issues then check out the last part of the article....makes you say hmmmmmm.


"However, McCain has also been known to tilt against his party. For example, he voted against a 2005 energy bill in part because it included billions of dollars in subsidies for oil and natural gas production. Obama voted for the measure, and Bush signed it into law."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/13/america/Obama-Adwatch.php

 Barack blames the faltering economy and the war in Iraq on GWB. McCain aligns himself  and supports all the policies and agendas of GWB. Once somewhat of a maverick in his party McShame is now a Bushbot on all fronts. I still don't see any Obama lies about McCain. Wanna try again?

Naturally. Who else would he blame?

You guys are killing me. Just curious, now that Iraq has set a timeline for troop withdrawals are you going to take credit or blame it on Bush/McCain?

That will depend on the outcome. If it goes well, then they'll take credit. If things go bad, Bush. That is subject to change, as well...

GWB led the US into the war/occupation , his borrow  and spend and  wealthy tax break policies have caused the economy to tank. Who would YOU blame?

I think the credit and housing bubble had quite a bit to do with it, too. As for the spending, you won't find disagreement here. We should slash like hell.

When pigs fly...

LOL, Freethinker, I think the pic on your avatar has McCain kissing the wrong location. Shouldn't it be lower down?

Sadly...

Instead, we've got at least one politician proposing billions and billions more...probably both.

Yes... and they make a very unlikely bird.

Funny you should mention Cass...I almost used this photoshopped version
 (http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:hFpP5A4At1pz5M:http://anotherkcblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/1-mccain_bush_hug.jpg) but I reconsidered in the interest of accuracy. ;D

Meanwhile, nothing from Patton. Or any other conservative. No list of Obama lies.

Interesting.

-For example, he (McCain) voted against a 2005 energy bill in part because it included billions of dollars in subsidies for oil and natural gas production. Obama voted for the measure, and Bush signed it into law.- How about America's legislative (you know the same people you voted into congress 2 years ago for change) and the executive branch. Despite what you think, one man does not run the United States. With that said how much do you really think Obama can change?

2005 ...that was the old McCain. The new McCain would give every break possible to big oil in exchange for their financial support.
 Of course one man doesn't "run "the United States (as much as junior would like to) But given a Democratic majority in congress who with Obama would lead and legislate in the interest of the American PEOPLE as opposed to to what we have had ,Yes I believe he and the legislature can and will make a huge difference. They will turn the democracy back to a government that represents the best interest of all the people not just the cooperate interests.
 If you don't believe change is due in this country you are sadly and profoundly mistaken.

Americans overwhelmingly support drilling. Congressional leadership stands in the way of the American people.

People have historically supported school vouchers. Congress has stood in the way and sided with corporate interests.

How can we know they, this time, will side with the American people?

I agree.

Pelosi is making a massive mistake by acting like Nurse Ratchett for the US Legislature.

And this is coming from a guy who opposes the whole silly concept of drilling in the first place.

The least you could do is have a debate!

/rant

OK, I see where this is going. If Obama gets elected things will still be just as bad then next we blame the judges. Change the constitution to give the president power to fire judges in Supreme Court because apparently it has to be their fault now.

When you say American people who are you referring too? Aren't the wealthy corporate CEO's and leaders just as American as you and deserve their voices and point of view heard?

Won't happen. Follow the money with Pelosi.

 .
 No you don't see where anything is going machioveli
You have it exactly wrong, it is the republicans who are trying to expand the powers of the presidency by changing the constitution and who want to overide the opinion of the courts.
 The wealthy cooperate CEO's and leaders are a VERY small percentage or the American people...no let me restate that ...they are a minuscule percentage of the American people, but because they control a large percentage of the money ,they are given an undue representation and favoritism in a republican administration and legislature who worship and cater to wealth. 
 That is going to change.

I am going to save this qoute if Obama gets elected.

  Don't you mean when Obama gets elected! 8)